George Kenneth Butterfield Jr. (born April 27, 1947) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 1st congressional district from 2004 to 2022.

A longtime advocate of civil rights, Butterfield was appointed an associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court by Governor Mike Easley in 2001, retaining the position until 2003.

[6] As a graduate of Meharry Medical College, he practiced dentistry for 50 years in the poor, segregated community of East Wilson.

In the late 1940s, he helped found the Wilson Branch of the NAACP in order to register black voters in the county.

[5] In describing his racial identity as a black man, he has pointed to his African heritage, as a direct descendant of enslaved people.

[9] He grew up in racially segregated North Carolina, living in "East Wilson", where he attended black schools.

He spent his childhood as a firsthand witness to the disenfranchisement of his black community originating as part of a targeted campaign to remove his father from the Board of Aldermen.

[10][11] After completing law school, Butterfield began a 14-year legal career as a civil rights attorney, practicing across eastern North Carolina.

Beginning on January 1, 1989, and for the next 12 years, he presided over civil and criminal court in 46 North Carolina counties.

Beginning in 2007, in the 110th Congress, Butterfield was chosen to serve as one of eight Chief Deputy Whips for the House Democratic Caucus.

Chief Deputy Whips assist in the formulation of Democratic policy and ensure the passage of legislation by maintaining good communication with members.

[26] He supports "a market-based approach to capping carbon emissions"[27] and wants to broaden the United States' sources of energy.

[31] In 2009, Butterfield introduced the Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite Act "to assist states in carrying out inspections of lodging facilities, train inspection personnel, contract with a commercial exterminator; educate owners and staff at lodging facilities.

"[33] Butterfield supported the Affordable Care Act, and worked with the Energy and Commerce Committee to help write the legislation.

"[40] In April 2012, Butterfield accompanied Obama to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to speak about extending the interest rates on federal loan programs for many undergraduate students.

Butterfield expressed concern with the pending expiration, saying: "Allowing the current interest rates to expire would burden students with additional debt, prolong their ability to kick start their careers, and send the message that it is more important to cut taxes for the wealthy than educational expenses for our young people.

"[41] On July 23, 2014, Butterfield introduced House Joint Resolution 120, approving the location of a memorial to commemorate the more than 5,000 slaves and free black persons who fought for independence in the American Revolution.

Butterfield is a lifelong member of Jackson Chapel First Missionary Baptist Church in Wilson, North Carolina, where he has served as Trustee and Chairman of the Finance Ministry.